Grangur

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1393170530' post='2376919'] ...There's a thread on here somewhere with links to loads of sites. [/quote] Here's one http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215336-learning-to-read-the-dots-sheet-music-to-learn-with/

Surely this is all about finding the fret positions and that alone? It's logical to have as simple system as possible,so you can find the frets at speed. So the objective is to have as few marks as possible, whilst being effective. If you had the even positions marked (2,4,6,8,10,12) you would have more positions marked than (3,5,7,9,12). They could mark position 1, but finding the first fret shouldn't be too much of a challenge for most musicians. They could mark the 11th, but again, it's only 1 fret down from the 12th. FWIW that's my guess.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1392753929' post='2372410'] This is good for reading rhythms. It's called, oddly enough, Encyclopedia of Reading Rhythms [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Institute-Encyclopedia-Workbook-Instruments/dp/0793573793/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392753679&sr=1-1&keywords=reading+rhythms"]http://www.amazon.co...reading+rhythms[/url] Also try the Complete Bach Cello Suites as you won't remember them enough to be playing them by ear. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faber-Music-Bach-Cello-Suites/dp/B003HKDZ02/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392753788&sr=1-4&keywords=bach+cello+suites"]http://www.amazon.co...ch+cello+suites[/url] It takes a few years to nail it, guys. Progress is incremental and slow. Be patient and stick with it. I know a 'ten-finger' reading pianist who told me it took him 15 years to nail it. If we take 2 or 3, we are doing well. [/quote] It's interesting you recommend the Bach. Please can you tell me, as the cello goes lower than our B string, do these often present a need for a B string? I'm only asking as I currently have a 5 string that I'm thinking of moving on, but I don't want to be shortsighted. It's got a really great neck with harmonics easily played all over.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1393073954' post='2375860'] Maybe not the same then. Mine has a longer thinner neck pocket too but I think it's (from memory) 61mm at it's widest part. It's also noticeable for being a 4 or 5 piece laminate (edit) [b]neck[/b]. It has no side markers either but I have seen one other which did have them. It cost me 80 bucks... but is up there with the best for playability and sound (original Dimarzio's).... must be because it's from the 70s [/sarcy reference to another thread] [/quote] Just measured it properly - 61mm

[quote name='Prosebass' timestamp='1393075633' post='2375879'] You could turn it into a six string? [/quote]Yeah! Besides, 6 strings with a 42mm nut are so hard to find these days!

Update: I just dug out the 1/2p pieces and found it had some kind of pink putty behind. Dug that out and the round plugs turned out to be dowels. Not full depth though. I think the brown must also be paint; to make it look like wood.(?) Off now to B&Q to find some dowel. And Gig Gear to get a new nut.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1393071270' post='2375820'] Just open a case "item not as described". Ebay tends to give buyers the benefit of any doubt. [/quote] I've also found ebay don't have any interest in you having to return the goods either. I once disputed about a bass not being as described and they refunded my paypal payment and that was it... I got an FOC bass!

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1393070665' post='2375810'] Haha I kinda like it as it is as a rat-bass. I have a noname blonde/natural bass with an identical pickguard (same tr access and hole layout - except for the lower thunbrest) and the neck construction looks very similar to yours. I wonder if they have the same origin. Does yours have a longer/less wide looking neck plate than standard? [/quote] Hi Rich, the neckplate is the same size as a Squier one I have here. But having removed the neck screws, the plate has stayed stuck to the body, so me suspects it's been sprayed and assembled too soon after, so some things have stuck. The neck is nice and light. It's less weighty than a de-fretted rosewood one I have here. The neck pocket is about 62mm. The pickguard is slightly longer than a standard Squier one though. The pups have covers - not integral with the pup and the tail wires are red & white. I don't know if this helps, but....

[quote name='Wud' timestamp='1393068564' post='2375780'] If it were me I'd cancel, saying the goods were not as described. I sell lots of stuff on Ebay and always make sure my listings are very accurate and I include as many photo's as appropriate. Ebay will side with you automatically being the buyer, sounds to me like the seller is lazy and/or stupid. [/quote] This +1 I wouldn't waste much time in getting a dispute claim started if I were you.

[quote name='Prosebass' timestamp='1393064735' post='2375725'] Option 2 as it looks hideous as is. Open up the original holes, fill the 'extra' holes with glued in dowel, read up on veneering and put a 0.6mm veneer on the front and back of the headstock, finish off with a nice roller string tree, simples.... [/quote] Yes, I think it looks hideous too. I've never done any veneering, but it's a new skill to learn. I'd not thought of that. Many thanks.

Hi Guys, A new bass day is here and I've got some work to do on this one. It's reputedly a bass made in the GDR in the 70s. In any case it's dirty, been strung as left-handed and tthe machine-head has been seriously doctored. Here's a link to [url="http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Grangur/slideshow/BC-pics/GDR%20bass"]the pics[/url] The claim to the old East Germany (GDR) is from a small gold sticker on the back of the headstock. I'm happy to work on it and get the bass all cleaned up and check the pups out before I think about replacing them, but the doctoring of the headstock is off the wall. As you can see 2 of the tuners have been moved. The holes have been re-filled with a cement type stuff and the tops filled on the back with 1/2p pieces (as you do). What would you do with this if it were yours? The options I see as being options are: 1. Leave it as it is - it's quirky and part of it's history. 2. Drill out the original holes, fill the "new" ones (but with what?) Thanks for looking

[quote name='Skinnyman' timestamp='1392760981' post='2372554'] I had a similar problem, wouldn't go away and the more I played, the more I aggravated it. Ended up with a cortizone injection in the shoulder - sorted! That and a Pro-Series Strapp (sic) from Bass Direct - seems to halve the weight of my bass. Best thing I ever bought (well, aside from the latex catsuit for the missus)... [/quote] Sounds like a good, sound recommendation. Please do post links and pics... of the latex suit, of course! @Odysseus ; Many thanks. I'll bear that in mind. The Osteo practitioner I go to is a physio as well, so hopefully she keeps all of it in mind. 2nd session tomorrow! Right now I can't wait for my forearm to stop aching.

Ok, I've just done a full check through for differences in the playing position for all my basses. For this I donned the bass and swung my left hand up to it's natural position where it swings straight up to the neck with no movement to my left at all. Furthest to the left is the Warwick - 15th fret. Squier P - 12th fret LTD ESP - 12th fret Wishbass - 10th fret However it's the Wishbass that was the bad boy. That was the one that caused most strain in the arm to play. The difference is all the others have narrower straps that I've adjusted for me. The Wishbass has the wider, leather strap it came with, adjusted for the other guy I bought it from and it sits about 2" higher on my chest. I've now adjusted the strap and it feels better. (Note the sneaky way I got to have an excuse to play a few bars there in the name of medical research. ) [size=4][quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1392733197' post='2372091'][/size] Sorry to read about this. A. No, you are not strange...but you are unique, as are we all.... Everything will be okay in the end dude. [/quote] So right there dude! I'm different to the guy I bought it from. Problem found and solved. Now I just need to solve the other problem of the arm etc. Its a pain how it makes you tired.... off to bed now to rest again with only Mrs G for company.... It's a tough life.

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1392749536' post='2372331'] Also have a think about the neck and how far it extends to the left of your trunk. The necks on some Warwicks (and Westones i.e. the old Thunder III) can extend further to the left than other instruments, such as a Fender P. The consequence is increased reach (and length of lever) for the fretting arm / hand. Just something to consider. [/quote] You've a fair point there. The Warwick Streamer is ok for me. But it's possible that without the shaping of the body on the back, maybe I hang the the bass too far to the left of me, somehow.

Thanks for all the comments and good wishes guys. Well, she says I'm lop-sided!! Can you imagine?! The nerve of the woman! Well, I got poked and prodded and pushed about and I do feel a bit better. No more bass for me for a few days at least. I did take the offending bass with me, but we didn't get that far this time. But I do, have exercises to do and can keep popping the Neuophen. At least there IS the prospect of getting better, so it's not all bad for me luckily. Besides, I am only 54. I've got years in front of me yet.

I bought a Warwick Corvette some time back and found after a while I was getting back strain. It's not a heavy bass, but it didn't agree with me. Recently I was playing on a nice fretless, flat body bass - again after a couple of hours of playing I've now got another strain in my back and arm. Am I strange? (OK, yes, I know) Am I the only person who has problems like this? Should I give us bass? Does anyone have some ideas as to what I'm doing wrong? BTW, I have no problems if the body of the bass is shaped, but if it's flat I'm in trouble.

[quote name='JuliusGroove' timestamp='1392714414' post='2371797'] I use to practice for an hour a day but I just got fed up when I saw no massive improvement. Finding transcriptions proved a headache too, I mean you can only really sight read a piece once.. After that you remember notes and you start to rely on memory [/quote] You need to use more complicated pieces then. Don't only read bass lines, play anything you can get your hands on. In a video Jaco says to play everything and anything, even treble clef (Fancy getting that wild huh!?!) Stuart Clayton has produced books for [url="http://www.basslinepublishing.com/bass-essentials/the-bass-guitarist-s-guide-to-reading-music-beginner-level.html"]reading for bass[/url]. I bet you won't remember all of them.

"The Bass Doc" is a member here and I believe he makes custom pick guards if you need to change it. Set ups - You can do it if you have a few tools This way you learn and save loads of dosh you can spend on good things, like a bass and strings and things. Here's 1 of a series of vids to get you on the way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te44eWXd9pc

Here's a pic of the one stolen from a gig I did last year: (I wish) Nice bass.

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1392580420' post='2370335'] I'd consider this ... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/229436-roland-cube-30-excellent-condition-now-with-pics/"]http://basschat.co.u...-now-with-pics/[/url] [/quote] Me too

I don't see a problem with having to pay fees to place a wanted ad. It IS an ad after all.

Roland Cube. It comes with on board effects too.